Thousands of yoga enthusiasts converged at Ricoh Arena, Coventry on June 24th to celebrate the fourth International Yoga Day and practice yoga under the tutelage of none other than Yog Guru Swami Ramdev. Interestingly, Coventry has also been named the City of Culture 2021, thus it is an ideal location to recognise yoga, the ancient cultural gift of India to the humankind. In the last three years, this event has gained much popularity and a global following. Indian Missions around the world have made tremendous efforts to popularise yoga.
The event which was compéred by Ms. Raageshwari Loomba Swaroop, popular actress and yoga practitioner, started with the traditional lighting of lamp by the Honourable Consul General Dr. Aman Puri, the Chief Guest Swami Ramdev and other distinguished guests. This was followed by relay of a small video message by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi. He stated that yoga is a way of life and its regular practice keeps the body and mind fit. Prime Minister Shri Modi also stressed on the need for standardising yoga and having institutionally trained and certified yoga teachers, so that yoga can be popularised, especially among the youth.
In his welcome address Dr. Puri enumerated the steps taken by the Indian Government in general and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in particular to popularise Yoga and its benefits internationally. He also highlighted the recognition given to Yoga in United Kingdom (UK), especially Yoga4NHS which started in 2014 and UK’s first centre of Excellence and Research Indian Traditional medicine and Yoga, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Modi along with His Royal Highness Prince Charles, during his recent visit to UK. Dr. Puri stated as yoga’s popularity is growing exponentially, it would not be difficult to foresee that in 2021 over hundred thousand people will perform yoga at Coventry along with Swami Ramdev.
Mr David Burbridge, Chairman of the Coventry City of Culture Trust assured that Coventry will be having fantastic events in ‘UK City of Culture 2021’ and he was hopeful that yoga celebrations would be a part of the event. Baroness Sandip Verma, Chairperson of European External Affairs Committee (former Minister of Energy and Climate Change and International Development) stated that people today are becoming distressed and that yoga helps to bind people together again. Mrs. Sunita Poddar, CEO- Oakminster Healthcare Ltd and Trustee of Patanjali Yog Peeth UK Trust informed that these days one in eight children are diagnosed with mental health issues and yoga being a holistic exercise can help in the physical, emotional and mental development. Mr Nikhil Nanda, Managing Director JHS Svendgaard Laboratories, stressed that everyday should be “Yog Day”. Dr Ashok, a doctor of Ayurveda, encouraged the gathering to take a positive energy back home and create a healthy, wealthy and happy environment.
The main attraction of this event was the yoga discourse and practical demonstration by Swami Ramdev. His simple way of explaining yoga appealed to the masses, who enthusiastically performed one after another asana along with the Master. He enumerated the benefits of constant practice of “Pranayama”, especially to cure ailments and reinvigorating the body and mind. Children performed asanas on stage along with Swami ji and sang Gayatri Mantra. Swami ji appreciated that yoga has become popular internationally.
The Consul General thanked all the participants, the sponsors and especially Swami Ramdev and Patanjali Peeth Trust (UK) to make the event a success. As a gesture of appreciation for gracing the event and making it successful Swami Ramdev was presented with an oil portrait of self. A memento was also presented to Ms. Raageshwari Loomba Swaroop for being an remarkable Master of Ceremonies. Dr. Puri remarked that yoga brings the world closer to India and India closer to the world.
The day concluded with a hope that the participants will imbibe yoga in their daily lives and help to popularise yoga among others. This will ensure that this ancient form of physical and spiritual exercise benefits more and more people and help them to overcome the stress and ailments of modern day life.
